Sponsored

2023 Pairing Ford TPMS on Motorsport wheels - tool not recognized

ANZAC

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 17, 2024
Threads
12
Messages
114
Reaction score
48
Location
Ellensburg, WA
Vehicles
2023 F-150 EB Lariat 502A 6.5' MaxTow Atlas Blue
For winter wheels I bought the 2023 Tremor wheel package, which include the Ford M-1180-B TPMS sensors and activation tool.

https://old.levittownfordparts.com/sku/m-1007k-1875g.html

https://www.levittownfordparts.com/sku/m-1180-b.html

I drove for 2 minutes at 20 mph, then stopped and ignition on but didn't start, used the triple hazard press to get into learn mode, but the trigger tool will not get the truck horn to honk. I know I can drop the tire pressure.... BUT

Weirdly the truck already seems to sense them, but I am not sure if the LF, RF, RR, LR sensors are mapped correctly.

Also the button on the tool only seems tolight up the red LED for 6 seconds or so no matter how long I press it.

What am I doing wrong? Is the procedure documented somewhere?
Sponsored

 

gagliano7

Well-known member
First Name
Joe
Joined
Mar 2, 2023
Threads
13
Messages
387
Reaction score
209
Location
Monroe NY
Vehicles
2023 F150 4x4 XL STX BAP 5.0 3:73
I just swap and drive. No problems for me.
 

ak49rzrs

Well-known member
First Name
Ryan
Joined
Jul 22, 2024
Threads
0
Messages
87
Reaction score
86
Location
Alaska
Vehicles
'24 F-150 501A,w/FX4, '18 SHO, '15 F-350 CC/LB 6.7
Occupation
Liquified fossil recovery
From my understanding and personal experience, the hazard button cycle is for relearning after a tire rotation. When swapping wheels you have to do the brake pedal, ignition cycle process to learn new sensors.
 
OP
OP
ANZAC

ANZAC

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 17, 2024
Threads
12
Messages
114
Reaction score
48
Location
Ellensburg, WA
Vehicles
2023 F-150 EB Lariat 502A 6.5' MaxTow Atlas Blue
OK, figured it out. It took a little bit.

When I swapped the tires, I drove for 2 minutes over 20mph (per procedure in manual). That wasn't enough time or distance I guess.

You need to drive until the car reads the new sensors. I could see this when the prior "stuck" PSI readings from my old tires, suddenly jumped 3-4 PSI to the new tires. I drove for about 7 minutes before this happened, once I saw this, I pulled over and used the trigger tool.

So once the car has read the new sensors (which it just does by driving on them for a bit), then the trigger tool is used to re-learn the rotation positions (left front, etc). I used the triple hazard press and then went around the car with the trigger tool and it worked.
 

flixden

Well-known member
First Name
Tim
Joined
Feb 28, 2025
Threads
20
Messages
207
Reaction score
99
Location
Oregon
Vehicles
2012 F-150
OK, figured it out. It took a little bit.

When I swapped the tires, I drove for 2 minutes over 20mph (per procedure in manual). That wasn't enough time or distance I guess.

You need to drive until the car reads the new sensors. I could see this when the prior "stuck" PSI readings from my old tires, suddenly jumped 3-4 PSI to the new tires. I drove for about 7 minutes before this happened, once I saw this, I pulled over and used the trigger tool.

So once the car has read the new sensors (which it just does by driving on them for a bit), then the trigger tool is used to re-learn the rotation positions (left front, etc). I used the triple hazard press and then went around the car with the trigger tool and it worked.
Thanks for posting this, I'll have to do it on Thursday.
What is the "triple hazard press"?
 

Sponsored

OP
OP
ANZAC

ANZAC

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 17, 2024
Threads
12
Messages
114
Reaction score
48
Location
Ellensburg, WA
Vehicles
2023 F-150 EB Lariat 502A 6.5' MaxTow Atlas Blue
Thanks for posting this, I'll have to do it on Thursday.
What is the "triple hazard press"?

Turn truck off.
Turn truck on but do not start.
Press hazard lights on and off three times (I think the last time just on)
Truck says "learning TPMS - left front" (or something)

You take the trigger tool to left front, right front, right rear,left rear in turn and press the button while holding the tool next to the valve stem on the sidewall, and the truck honks.

This is on a 2023, don't think 2012 is the same. There's also sequence with brake pedal and ignition switch.
 

flixden

Well-known member
First Name
Tim
Joined
Feb 28, 2025
Threads
20
Messages
207
Reaction score
99
Location
Oregon
Vehicles
2012 F-150
Turn truck off.
Turn truck on but do not start.
Press hazard lights on and off three times (I think the last time just on)
Truck says "learning TPMS - left front" (or something)

You take the trigger tool to left front, right front, right rear,left rear in turn and press the button while holding the tool next to the valve stem on the sidewall, and the truck honks.

This is on a 2023, don't think 2012 is the same. There's also sequence with brake pedal and ignition switch.
Thanks a lot! This is for my new 2025, I need to update my profile!
 
OP
OP
ANZAC

ANZAC

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 17, 2024
Threads
12
Messages
114
Reaction score
48
Location
Ellensburg, WA
Vehicles
2023 F-150 EB Lariat 502A 6.5' MaxTow Atlas Blue

flixden

Well-known member
First Name
Tim
Joined
Feb 28, 2025
Threads
20
Messages
207
Reaction score
99
Location
Oregon
Vehicles
2012 F-150
Cool. Some of the TPMS stuff changed in 2024, they changed frequencies on the sensors. Not sure what else changed. (2023 and earlier are 315MHz, 2024 and later are 433MHz)

Here's a 2024+ thread: https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...procedure-ford-perf-part-m-1180-433mhz.32134/
t's really interesting is that the description in this thread you linked for the re-learning (using the hazards) says to go around and lower the air pressure tire by tire, whereas you used the activation tool, from what I am reading.
So it sounds like you used a combination of the two procedures, right?
I may try the same you did, seems easier than lowering tire pressure.
 
Last edited:

flixden

Well-known member
First Name
Tim
Joined
Feb 28, 2025
Threads
20
Messages
207
Reaction score
99
Location
Oregon
Vehicles
2012 F-150
Turn truck off.
Turn truck on but do not start.
Press hazard lights on and off three times (I think the last time just on)
Truck says "learning TPMS - left front" (or something)

You take the trigger tool to left front, right front, right rear,left rear in turn and press the button while holding the tool next to the valve stem on the sidewall, and the truck honks.

This is on a 2023, don't think 2012 is the same. There's also sequence with brake pedal and ignition switch.
Now reading the relevant section in the manual, I am wondering if you really needed to do this. If the sensors were already recognized, then according to the manual, that should be it.
My manual says the following:
"You must reset the tire pressure monitoring system after each tire rotation on vehicles that require different recommended tire pressures in the front tires as compared to the rear tires."

At least in my truck, the recommendation in the door sill is 36ps all around, so technically I would not have to do this procedure if the sensors are already recognized.
It doesn't make 100% sense to me, but that's what it says.
Am I reading this incorrectly?
 

Sponsored


OP
OP
ANZAC

ANZAC

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 17, 2024
Threads
12
Messages
114
Reaction score
48
Location
Ellensburg, WA
Vehicles
2023 F-150 EB Lariat 502A 6.5' MaxTow Atlas Blue
I think it is helpful to know, if tire pressure is low, which tire is low.
 
OP
OP
ANZAC

ANZAC

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 17, 2024
Threads
12
Messages
114
Reaction score
48
Location
Ellensburg, WA
Vehicles
2023 F-150 EB Lariat 502A 6.5' MaxTow Atlas Blue
t's really interesting is that the description in this thread you linked for the re-learning (using the hazards) says to go around and lower the air pressure tire by tire, whereas you used the activation tool, from what I am reading.
So it sounds like you used a combination of the two procedures, right?
I may try the same you did, seems easier than lowering tire pressure.
You can use either on the 2023, either lower pressure or the trigger tool. Apparently.
 

flixden

Well-known member
First Name
Tim
Joined
Feb 28, 2025
Threads
20
Messages
207
Reaction score
99
Location
Oregon
Vehicles
2012 F-150
Here is an update:
I got my new wheels installed by Discount Tire today (will post later in the wheels and tire section).
I had ordered the M-1180-433MHZ TPMS sensors and activation tool, using Ford's black Friday discount and some of my Ford points.

At first, the guys at DT were puzzled. The sensors didn't register on their handheld tool, so they told me that they won't work, and can't be activated. They were about to rip the tires off my old wheels and use the TPMS from there, LOL, that's when I interfered after seeing one of my old wheels on the tire mounting machine. :)

So I told them that the sensors are fine, and to just go ahead and mount them. I had the activation tool with me, as well as the printed instructions, and was going to register the new sensors on my way home. They proceeded, after telling me that this is on my own risk. Fine!

Fast forward: They installed the sensors, wheels & tires. While still in their parking lot, I set all tires to 38psi, except the passenger rear, which I set to 37psi. (I had brought my battery operated compressor and my precise digital gauge).

When I started driving, the display showed the pressure from my old sensors still, at 34/35 psi from the morning. I drove for like 20 mins on the highway (around 20 miles), and nothing changed. So I decided to pull over and power cycle the truck to see if that helps. As I pull up the exit ramp and slow down, I see the TPMS reading change: 40psi now, except 39psi right rear. The 2 psi difference since the DT parking lot is because I've now been driving, tires warmed up.

So I stop, and lower the tire pressures as follows: left front to 38psi, left rear to 36psi, right front to 34psi. Left the right rear unchanged at 39psi.
Hop back in the truck and start driving. Within less than 300ft (I was still on the on-ramp), the display reads LF=38 / LR=36 / RF=34 / RR=39. Exactly what I had set the tires to.

So without me doing anything, the truck TMPS system has initiated itself, and the location is shown correctly on the display.

Of course, I pulled over right away (next exit) and equaled out all 4 tires to 39psi now.

So my conclusion is that our TPMS is smart enough to do everything automatically. I am wondering though why in the world Ford is including this activation tool. I refuse to believe that all four sensors being recognized at their correct location was a coincidence.

Sorry for the long post, but I thought that this may help somebody else who's in the same situation.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
ANZAC

ANZAC

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 17, 2024
Threads
12
Messages
114
Reaction score
48
Location
Ellensburg, WA
Vehicles
2023 F-150 EB Lariat 502A 6.5' MaxTow Atlas Blue
Here is an update:
I got my new wheels installed by Discount Tire today (will post later in the wheels and tire section).
I had ordered the Ford M-1180-B TPMS sensors and activation tool also, using Ford's black Friday discount and some of my Ford points.

At first, the guys at DT were puzzled. The sensors didn't register on their handheld tool, so they told me that they won't work, and can't be activated. They were about to rip the tires off my old wheels and use the TPMS from there, LOL, that's when I interfered after seeing one of my old wheels on the tire mounting machine. :)

So I told them that the sensors are fine, and to just go ahead and mount them. I had the activation tool with me, as well as the printed instructions, and was going to register the new sensors on my way home. They proceeded, after telling me that this is on my own risk. Fine!

Fast forward: They installed the sensors, wheels & tires. While still in their parking lot, I set all tires to 38psi, except the passenger rear, which I set to 37psi. (I had brought my battery operated compressor and my precise digital gauge).

When I started driving, the display showed the pressure from my old sensors still, at 34/35 psi from the morning. I drove for like 20 mins on the highway (around 20 miles), and nothing changed. So I decided to pull over and power cycle the truck to see if that helps. As I pull up the exit ramp and slow down, I see the TPMS reading change: 40psi now, except 39psi right rear. The 2 psi difference since the DT parking lot is because I've now been driving, tires warmed up.

So I stop, and lower the tire pressures as follows: left front to 38psi, left rear to 36psi, right front to 34psi. Left the right rear unchanged at 39psi.
Hop back in the truck and start driving. Within less than 300ft (I was still on the on-ramp), the display reads LF=38 / LR=36 / RF=34 / RR=39. Exactly what I had set the tires to.

So without me doing anything, the truck TMPS system has initiated itself, and the location is shown correctly on the display.

Of course, I pulled over right away (next exit) and equaled out all 4 tires to 39psi now.

So my conclusion is that our TPMS is smart enough to do everything automatically. I am wondering though why in the world Ford is including this activation tool. I refuse to believe that all four sensors being recognized at their correct location was a coincidence.

Sorry for the long post, but I thought that this may help somebody else who's in the same situation.
I thought your truck is a 2025? They use 433 MHz sensors, different part number.....!

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-1180-433MHZ
Sponsored

 
 







Top